Several industries have already taken a liking on smart speakers, with Apple HomePod expected to launch early next year to rival the Amazon Echo and Google Home. The race will only get tighter as another potential competitor is rumored to arrive in early 2018, the very-first Samsung smart speaker.

As reported by Bloomberg, Samsung is planning to release its own smart speaker in the first half of 2018. Based on the online publication's source, the South Korean tech firm's smart speaker boasts the same high-quality sounds as the Apple HomePod. However, while other audio gadgets are able to capture attention with aesthetics and user-friendliness, the Samsung smart speaker is said to focus on audio quality. 

Samsung made the announcement back in August that the company will unveil a smart speaker soon, aiming to outclass the Apple HomePod. A definite release date and features of the gadget were not mentioned, although Samsung mobile president DJ Koh promised a "fruitful user experience" upon its launch.

So far, the reports state that one prototype of the Samsung smart speaker is somewhere in between the size of the 2017 Amazon Echo variant and the Apple HomePod. Of course, this could still change as the prototype undergoes further changes. The smart speaker is expected to sport different color variants such as matte black. 

The particular Samsung smart speaker prototype in question is said to lack a touchscreen, unlike the Amazon Echo Show. However, the gadget has a light-up area on the top portion to indicate visual feedback, which is similar to the Apple HomePod.

As expected, the Samsung smart speaker prototype is powered by the company's resident voice assistant, Bixby. With its AI capabilities, the gadget can also control other smart devices.

CNET reported that the Samsung smart speaker might be released in the same period as the Apple HomePod. To recall, the Cupertino-based firm had to delay the launch of its own smart speaker until 2018 due to unspecified reasons. 

The Samsung smart speaker is rumored to cost around USD $200 or £150, making it more expensive than a regular Amazon Echo at $99. However, the gadget is expected to be cheaper than the Apple HomePod, which currently has a $349 price tag.